National Labor Relations Board issues rule requiring employers to notify employees of their rights

The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) has issued a rule requiring most private sector employers to hang a poster up in their workplaces which notifies employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”). Most employers will likely hang these posters amongst the other posters they’re already required to hang up in the workplace. Among other things, the poster will inform employees that they have the right to organize a union to negotiate with their employer concerning wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2010, only 6.9% of private sector employees were unionized. To the extent that low number is attributable to a lack of understanding about the right to unionize, this new NLRB rule could result in more employees forming unions.